In a decision that comes less than one week after city officials presented a new stadium proposal, this time at Mindiola Park, the common council authorized staff to enter into formal contract negotiations with the investment group, which still wants to start or bring a Northwoods League team here.

The $12 million project would involve transforming the park, located adjacent to Hoover Avenue and north of Sunset Drive between West and Grand avenues, into a 2,500-seat baseball park and adjoining soccer fields.

Big Top Baseball would construct the stadium on six acres given to it by the city, but the stadium would end up in city hands at the end of an estimated seven-year development incentive period with the city. Big Top would pay taxes, estimated at $250,000 a year, during that incentive period, then make lease payments to use the facility for up to 20 years.

City Administrator Kevin Lahner explained that the public investment would be financed through the extension of one of the city's most successful tax-incremental financing districts, in which the Shoppes at Fox River shopping center was born a decade ago.

Using a conservative formula, the park project cost would be paid off in seven years based on anticipated development within the revised TIF district, Lahner said.

Council thoughts

Alderman, on a 12-1 vote, approved a resolution giving staff permission to begin the talks with Big Top, though some noted they weren't necessarily promising they would favor a contract once it is drafted.

Alderman Dan Manion was among those who voiced reservations. Manion noted that the Shoppes at Fox River's success gave him reason to believe the TIF district could be closed as early as 2022, which would then allow those new tax dollars to flow into the various tax jurisdictions. Extending the TIF district to include development around Mindiola Park would delay the TIF district's closure.

"I'm supportive of the resolution (authorizing staff to negotiate), but I would encourage staff to look at every (financing) option ... other than using the TIF district," Manion said.

Alderman Vance Skinner suggested he will have to see the final contract before deciding his support, but for different reasons.

"We need to go bigger," said Skinner, who said his interest lies more with what soccer facilities represents as a drawing card rather than simply baseball. "We need to do it right. ... Frame Park I did not get behind, This I can get behind" if soccer aspect is boosted in the plan.

Cory Payne left no doubt about his support.

"In the past year, my eyes have been opened ... about what staff is trying to do," Payne said in animated support. "I would like to (establish with) absolute certainty that Waukesha is open for business. ... I know this has been used before, but this (park proposal) is a game changer."

Jack Wells, the alderman whose district includes Mindiola Park, also supports moving forward with the plan, in part on the merits of the concept.

"It does intrigue me, ... but I'm still not comfortable at this point to say 'yes.' It's $12 million, and there is a lot of details we don't have yet," Cummings said.

Public comments

The meeting also included more than a dozen residents who spoke during the opening public comments portion preceding the night's agenda.

One notable element that clearly differed from the Frame Park proposal, which met with strong public resistance that prompted the city to back away from the plan, was in the support of the family for whom the parked was named.

Bonnie Mindiola, whose late husband John served for three decades on the city's parks board, said the plan "would boost the economy of Waukesha."

Still, as was the case in the Frame Park proposal, there were some who said the financial picture need to be clarified.

"What I'm against is the city of Waukesha paying for it," said Matt Wellford, who suggested the money that Big Top would pay to the city can instead be used to seed financing to build its own ballpark.

In response to aldermen questions, Lahner acknowledged the city will be forced to work quickly to draw up a contract for council consideration, given business pressures on Big Top and others.

After the meeting, he said it was unlikely a draft will be ready in time for the next council meeting on March 20, but the issue could generate additional discussion then.

Deal ideas

Here's an outline about what the city and Big Top Baseball would have to do to make the project come together:

City responsibilities:

Contribute up to $12 million in infrastructure cost to prepare site for construction and install related infrastructure

Provide development incentive to Big Top Waukesha to construct private improvements (buildings)

Convey approximately six-acre parcel to Big Top Waukesha for the purpose of the private investment

Develop two to four full-sized artificial turf soccer fields and construct additional parking on the site

Amend Tax Increment Financing District 14 boundaries to facilitate construction of improvements and facilitate redevelopment of the surrounding area

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